pafp model buses // clearing snow

[icebreath]

TAGS — The leafbare weather is getting intense; Icepaw's never experienced such a stubborn storm before. It feels everlasting, with hardly a break to be enjoyed at this point. But then again, this is their first experience with the frigid season, so for all they know this is how it always goes. They're not a fan. Especially when the snow just keeps piling up, making even the camp a bit of a pain to traverse for a cat as small as herself. More concerning is the state of the few dens that exist here; their entrances are growing increasingly caked with snow, to the point that she's concerned they might wind up totally blocked if nothing's done. And so, having been instructed to do some chores by Nightmareface, she recruits her sister to do what they do best: dig. She figures it's best to start with the nursery and the elders' den, so Icepaw takes the former and Rainpaw the latter, but fortunately they're not too far apart that they can't converse while they work. Not that she's a particularly chatty cat, but Rainpaw's one of the few cats who isn't draining to talk with for extended periods. "How's your training been going?" she calls over to the silver tabby, simultaneously shoveling with her forepaws.

@rainpaw
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[rainpaw]

Rainpaw found the bad weather to be annoying at best and painful at worst, when the chilly air got to her sensitive nose and paw pads. She guessed it wasn't doing much to help the sick cats of the clan, either, which left her with a frown and flat ears whenever she thought of it. Clearing the entrances of the dens at least gave Rainpaw the feeling that the snow wasn't all-powerful and permanent; it could be impacted and moved around, too. White-tipped paws churned at the snow by the elders' den, pushing it aside quickly to form a pile that wasn't directly blocking the elders from coming or going. Rainpaw guessed they would rather stay put in the relative warmth of the den, but they had to get up and get fresh-kill eventually.

She rolled a ball of icy snow off to the side as Icepaw called her out of her thoughts. Despite her less-than-cheery mood, the corners of her maw lifted all the same as she responded, "I think it's going well. The other day, Curlewnose and I were working on me navigating using the wind in the tunnels. I want to focus on getting better at that. He's a really nice mentor." The silver tabby broke her gaze away from the snow for a moment, to cast a glance over at Icepaw, who was only distinguishable from the snow thanks to the shadings of gray across their fur. "How about you?" Rainpaw wasn't sure that she would want Nightmareface as a mentor, but she didn't seem like the worst of the worst- at least she was willing to give out a chore that was interesting (albeit very cold), rather than just plucking ticks from elders' fur. She paused, shaking her snow-flecked coat out, and added as an afterthought, "It'd be really nice if everyone could fit down in the tunnels and get away from the snow for a while, huh?"​

 

[Firefang]

The snow went higher on her body making every step she made more bothersome especially in the lower portions of the moor where hills sloped and snow grew far more dense, the camp itself wasn't free from it either she'd taken note that most of the dens if they weren't cleared would get blocked in there was just no end to the snowfall so they all had to lend a paw in keeping things orderly. Even if she hates the idea of getting her paws more soaked then they already are after running on the moors with her mentor she knows lazing around won't be tolerated, Snailpaw did enough of that for the rest of the apprentices. Her steps are loud crunching in the snow as she heads to check one of the dens only to spot her favorite nuisance and her annoying sister hard at work trying to help uncover it. A groan gasps its way out of her but she doesn't move away like she clearly could there was enough to be done that she could find something else to do easily but that'd mean leaving Icepaw in peace. She uses the fact Rainpaw is speaking to duck down into a crouch trying o stay silent as she approaches from behind to quickly harmlessly bat at Icepaw's hind leg in an attempt to spook the pretty she-cat. ❝How's it goin' Lamepaw and Lamerpaw?❞ she mraows with a chuckle as she slides between the two suprsingly lending her own paws to their work helping them begin to shovel away the snow. Just because she no longer was a Tunneler didn't mean she didn't retain the basic knowledge of how to be one, proper digging was about the first lesson she learned though she never learned the more intricate parts of the task - when and when not to dig at a wall and how to tell when soil was far to lose and dangerous to mess around with and all.

She hums to herself responding to the question Rainpaw asked her sister ❝And be stuck down there with you Rainpaw, eww no way❞ the chill in her paws intensifies with every scoop of snow but in her credit she does not complain even if she begins to involuntarily shiver. ❝Plus who'd wanna sleep in the tunnels, you'd miss seeing the stars❞ even with all the snow starclan still watched over them and she took comfort in the fact every night she could still look up at them no matter where she slept. ❝I'll take freezin' my butt off just to be beneath the stars, it's worth it. I can show you the warmest places to sleep and still get a clear view y'know Icepaw❞ she would refuse to show Rainpaw, she could stay in the dirty tunnels for all she cared.
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( PLACE ME IN MY CASKET TONIGHT ; BECAUSE IM ALREADY DYING INSIDE )

 

[SNAILSTRIDE]

Snailpaw was avoiding their mentor again. It was easy to claim that the cold weather separated them, in actuality, they just did not want another cuffed ear after their last distraction from their duties got them in trouble. Dipping behind various mounds of snow as they made their way through WindClan's camp, it did not take long for sapphire eyes to settle on three familiar apprentices clearing the entrances to some dens. 'As long as it's not the tunnels they're clearing...' Snailpaw did not want to see those things for a while; the air on the inside felt as thick as mud, and there was barely enough room for them to spin around and gather their bearings. A lesson had been learned the day they'd got lost in them, one that would stick far longer than the ones their clan had tried to teach them. The marbled tabby hopped over to the trio, listening to the tail end of the conversation with a slight twinge of jealousy. It seemed that everyone got along with their mentors, everyone except for the work-shy Snailpaw. He didn't know how much of his fault that was, his mentor expectation perfection from someone who could not offer it, and when risking disappointing others, the tabby would rather not try at all.

They shot a glance at Firepaw as they offered Icepaw a chance to see the stars, and giggled mischievously to themselves. Firepaw really was a big old horse chestnut, wasn't she? She could pretend she was all spiky and guarded, but it didn't take much to peel that back and see the real apprentice. Or, maybe that was just around Icepaw. "Wow Rainpaw, I feel like we're interrupting something special here!" They mewed excitedly, hopping to the other tabby's side. Their alabaster paws still didn't move to help them clear the snow, though it was out of genuine oblivious that asking would have been polite rather than maliciousness or laziness. Snailpaw's attention remained solely on the apprentices, even as snow began to build up on the long strands of slate fur on their flank. "Did you just... invite Icepaw out on a date? In front of everyone? Aww, that's so romantic!" He cooed loudly, lifting both paws and attempting to shake Rainpaw gently out of excitement (and to get her to pay attention to what he was saying). Then, they gasped suddenly as if remembering something important. "Ooooh do you need someone to cover your apprentice duties while you be all cute with each other and stuff? I can do it!"



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[bunnywhisker]

"You? Offering to do work?" Bunnywhisker nears from close by, whatever her previous task was swiftly abandoned for the chittering apprentices. She feels a small sense of sadness as she looks at them - she wouldn't class them as former friends, not yet, but she feels herself drifting with no way back to them. Her tail twitches and she continues to voice her surprise rather than wallow in self pity, "My, the stars themselves must be crashing to the ground by now, then. It was nice to know you lot," she pauses, leaning back to sit on her haunches. "Well, most of you, at least." She couldn't resist the addition.

Regardless, three apprentices working, one feigning interest in it, and a moor runner simply watching them. She feels awkward, the aching feeling of loneliness grasps her chest again, and she speaks again simply to drown it out. "Which of you have Snailpaw convinced that they want to work again? I just want to know the secret, that's all," she continues with the teasing, simply hoping it won't turn on her, With Firepaw and Rainpaw in the crowd however... she feels it'll come in due time.​

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[icebreath]

TAGS — Icepaw listens with a smile as her sister speaks, though her gaze remains locked on her work; she makes a point to acknowledge what's being said with deliberate nods and twitches of her large ears instead. "That's great," she mews after a moment. "Yeah, Curlewnose seems really nice." He's pretty different from Nightmareface in terms of temperament, from what she's seen. A lot nicer, more lax. Sometimes she wonders what it'd be like to train under him instead, but as stern as her own mentor can be, Icepaw appreciates it — it keeps her on track, too afraid to slack off or half-ass anything. And she knows the older molly's only like that because she cares; the tunnels are incredibly dangerous, after all, and they can't afford to make any mistakes or not take things seriously. "Mine's going good — lots of scent-navigation for me. Agility training, too."

They nod thoughtfully in response to Rainpaw's musing — if only! She's been entertaining the idea of asking her sister if she'd be interested in making a little makeshift nest underground together, in some old den close to camp; now feels like an appropriate time. "Yeah, th—" A sudden contact with her leg, albeit a light one, suddenly cuts her off as the little molly jumps a bit from surprise. Quickly she whips her head around, eyes wide... and her cheeks warm sheepishly at the sight of Firepaw, the annoying little fly she can't seem to swat away. StarClan, she can't catch a break! But this is much better than outright bullying or threats; she's admittedly been worried ever since she accidentally pushed the other apprentice's buttons a little too hard in front of Lynxtooth. To be honest, she hadn't pegged Firepaw as someone to just get over things like that, especially when it'd really seemed like she was about to lunge at Icepaw over her remark.

Nor had she pegged her as someone particularly interested in helping her — or Rainpaw, for that matter, considering how frequently the pair tend to butt heads. But Firepaw's quick to start digging alongside the sisters, and for a moment Icepaw just looks at her quietly, ignoring the insulting nickname given to her. Even if she is still being a nuisance, she guesses Lynxtooth's discipline — and Icepaw's comment about pulling her weight, made in front of the imposing warrior — really did get to her. Serves her right.

Icepaw's never felt any interest in hanging out with Firepaw, something that's reaffirmed as the dark-furred molly immediately lashes out at Rainpaw (which she reacts to with a pointed glance in her sister's direction, an attempt at an exasperated exchange of eye contact), but she's not about to refuse extra help. And maybe choring in the middle of camp will keep her tame. I hope that's not the only thing stopping her from being actually rude to me. She still worries a little bit about what might happen if they're ever alone together — the things Firepaw might say. But, for all of her bluster, Icepaw knows she's a loyal WindClanner; there's no way she'd actually do anything to her. Especially not when there's so many warriors Icepaw could run to!

Admittedly, she can see where Firepaw's coming from regarding her comment about the night sky. Sometimes Icepaw thinks about the distance between herself and StarClan when she's in the tunnels; can they see her when she's down there? It's hard not to worry, but she reminds herself that they're all-seeing, all-knowing — certainly they still guide her paws. But then why did Smokepaw's accident happen? Though maybe it was inevitable, and they're to thank for the fact that it could've been so much worse than it was. Firepaw was involved with that, she muses. Icepaw doesn't know the full story, what actually happened, but she does know that Firepaw was switched to a moor-runner regimen right afterward; she can connect the dots, especially with the rumors that had swirled around camp after the incident.

The sound of her own name falling from Firepaw's lips finally pulls her out of her thoughts, and after a moment she fully processes what was said to her. It's impossible to keep the surprise off her face at the realization, though she does her best not to be too obvious about it. Snailpaw's sudden introjection pulls her attention away before she can reply, her eyes widening once again at his questioning. "Snailpaw!" Her embarrassment at being spooked was nothing compared to what she feels now, and she quickly looks away with a lashing tail, momentarily pausing in her work as she gets caught up in the moment. How oblivious is he to the way Firepaw acts around her? Icepaw's confident that this is just another way for the other apprentice to flex her superiority complex over the tunnelers, or maybe an apology for being so hostile in the past. Maybe Lynxtooth told Badgermoon about it, who told her to be nicer.

Bunnywhisker's approach gives her more time to not answer Firepaw; it's not that she doesn't want to, but she does feel kind of weird about it. Ironic that she'd just been thinking about how little she wants to hang out with the other. But it's not like she can say no! Especially when she's probably feeling really embarrassed, too — more so than Icepaw as the asker, probably. Their warrior friend's jesting earns a chuckle from the small feline, tinged with the mounting awkwardness that stunts her. Firepaw's invitation is another sign of the world ending, she thinks — but would never dream of saying it aloud. Not in front of her, at least. She bookmarks the comment so she can tell the others later, in private, and feel funny without risking the fragile-feeling peace between them. "Yeah, what's come over you, Snailpaw?" she asks softly, smiling, before redirecting her gaze to Firepaw. "But anyway, yeah — that'd be nice." She lapses into silence for a few moments. "Thank you." With any luck, this really is just a show of superiority and Firepaw won't even follow up on it; sometimes Icepaw feels awful at skillfully holding conversations with her friends, much less someone she has this kind of relationship with! What if it's super awkward or uncomfortable, or it turns nasty again?
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